In our town, 80% of voters selected Donald Trump to be their president in the 2016 election. However, none should expect this Democrat, born during the Great Depression, to discard his proven political beliefs, in dreadfully divided America, today.

My immigrant parents admired Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s courage to make America Great (1933-1945). And, so, he did, accompanied by the Greatest Generation of Americans.

In the 1930s, FDR refurbished America’s broken infrastructure by creating jobs through CCC camps (Civilian Conservation Corps) and the WPA (Works Progress Administration). He then established the Social Security Administration to support the elderly in retirement, and the federal income tax to pay America’s debts.

He countered the Axis invaders by establishing the military draft. He then mobilized the armed forces. National defense jobs were soon plentiful. Women entered the labor force. America invested in war bonds to support the war effort.

The war with Germany ended in May 1945, one month after the passing of this legendary president. In his three terms as president, he succeeded in bringing America’s immigrants together into one harmonious melting pot.

When the nuclear age was introduced to the world by Harry S. Truman, its devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki ended the war against Japan in August 1945.

Today, Republican witchcraft offers little but fear, fiction and fascism for America’s struggling masses. After World War II ended, Democrats continued to dominate American politics during the second half of the glorious 20th century. It was FDR who opened the door for the common man to capture the American Dream throughout the Industrial Revolution.

You had to be there to believe it.

Geno Mariotti, Butler

Mr. Mariotti’s letter was submitted on time for the deadline, but was misplaced. We are amending this by printing it now.